#teampubliclands

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Just you and your bestie.

We love using photos from our employees and community members who practice  #TeamPublicLands principals! Be a bestie to wildlife and give them room by using a zoom. http://ow.ly/28Er50EWGPn

Photo by D. Machado, National Park Service

[americasgreatoutdoors]

The myth, the legend, the park ranger.  

The legacy of the ranger is long and storied. They live and work in these beautiful places and often times are the only ones present to capture images like this.  

Photo of @dinosaurnps in Utah courtesy of Ranger Tif

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May your National Wildflower Week be as beautiful as this scene from @mypubliclands's Lemhi Pass in Idaho. Wildflowers are beautiful, they can be eaten, they are medicine, and they are home to so much wildlife. Wild spaces provide habitat for these blossoms to bloom, and the benefits they provide are endless! Photo by Bureau of Land Management

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"Nature doesn’t take notice of your gender, your race, your abilities, or your faults. The only thing that matters is that you leave the space as you find it." - Teresa Baker  

As we enjoy National Park Week, we encourage park lovers to leave these special places unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. Photo of Glacier National Park by Autumn Schrock (www.sharetheexperience.org)  

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CrocFlix: Are you still watching?

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This American crocodile at Everglades National Park has either been streaming for far too long, or it is thermoregulating its body and head temperature by mouth "gaping." We think it’s option 2.

Different species of reptiles will sometimes sit motionless with their mouth open. It’s not considered aggressive behavior, but thought to be a way to regulate their temperature.  

Although they look similar, alligators are more numerous in Florida than crocodiles. Gators are darker, have a broader snout, and are typically found in freshwater habitats. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are rare and secretive creatures that inhabit coastal, brackish, and salt-water habitats and are typically lighter colored.  

One of the best ways to view American crocs is to visit the Flamingo section of Everglades National Park. This is where Robert Kramer recently stopped by and they were lucky enough to capture this toothy grin from a safe distance away with a zoom lens on their camera.  

Photo by Robert Kramer. Photo description: A large crocodile has their mouth open showing all of their teeth and mouth

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Team Public Lands Tip: Know before you go. Check agency websites or stop by a contact station before you set out to learn about fees, pick up permits, check the weather and make a plan. Know your limits and pack the proper gear for your public lands adventure. Photo of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area by Darsh Patel (www.sharetheexperience.org). https://www.doi.gov/blog/welcome-team-public-lands  

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#TeamPublicLands Tip: Follow the beaten path. If you’re exploring public lands with a designated trail system, stay on the trail to focus your impacts. Yes, that might mean walking through a mud puddle on the trail. If you’re exploring public lands without trails, then do your best to stay on durable surfaces like rocks, sand or gravel or have your group spread out to prevent unplanned trails from forming when that isn’t possible. Photo by Adam Jewell (ShareTheExperience.org)

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Join us in celebrating #AmericanWetlandsMonth! Wetlands support people and wildlife in many ways: Clean water for drinking, Fishing and boating Nursery for fishes, wildlife, and plants Flood protection Filtering pollution -- to name just a few! The USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System protects wetlands across the U.S. for migratory birds, rare plants and wildlife, and recreation opportunities like fishing and birding. More: http://ow.ly/fCdk50EDC1o

Photo at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.